Methylene Chloride Banned: Understanding the Impact on Industry

The usage of methylene chloride, or dichloromethane (DCM) in products is becoming a fairly popular topic in the industrial world. The EPA proposed a new rule regarding dichloromethane under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) in May 2023. EPA’s rule (when finalized) would prohibit most industrial uses of DCM. The EPA has determined methylene chloride to be an unreasonable risk and a hazard to human health. In this blog, we will explain the dangers of DCM and suggest a solution that can be a replacement.  

Health Hazards of Methylene Chloride   

Dichloromethane, or CH2Cl2, is a colorless liquid utilized in many industries that can cause various health problems:  

  • Drowsiness   
  • Numbness   
  • Nausea   
  • Dizziness   
  • Tingling limbs   
  • Harmed eyes  
  • Damaged skin,  
  • Damaged liver  
  • Harmed heart   
  • Cancer   

Safe Strip   

If you need a paint and coating remover that is more environmentally friendly, Safe Strip is the product for you!   

Safe Strip effectively replaces hazardous solvents typically used for paint removal and paint cleanup, such as methylene chloride and more. This remover has a lower Inhalation Hazard Index than Meth, so it is safer to utilize in industrial and commercial settings. Other benefits of Safe Strip include the following:   

  • Biodegradable   
  • Non-flammable   
  • Non-ozone depleting   
  • Effective on a wide variety of cured and uncured coatings   
  • One-step coatings removal   
  • Low VOC emissions in use   

The chemical formula may be used in an immersion tank or as a brush-on and rinse-off solvent.   

Interested in Purchasing Methylene Chloride Free Products?   

Look no further than Ecolink! We have over thirty years of experience in supplying bulk chemicals for new and returning customers. We provide eco-conscious and high-quality solutions for all your industrial needs. We also supply knowledgeable blogs such as this one to help broaden your knowledge of chemistry and how to utilize chemical solutions properly. If you would like to see the products that we have to offer, you can begin to browse through them here. If you would prefer to speak with a member of our staff, you can reach out to them here. Please do not hesitate to contact us today! 

Non-Methylene Chloride Paint Remover: Safe and Effective Stripping  

Methylene chloride was once one of the main components in most paint removers. However, ever since November 2019, a ban was put in place by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The ban prohibited the manufacturing and importing of all methylene chloride paint strippers. This blog post will discuss the benefits of a non-methylene chloride paint remover.   

What are the benefits to a non methylene chloride paint remover?  

The main benefit of a non-methylene chloride paint remover is that it will not have hazardous effects on human health. Methylene chloride is a major health risk; even in small amounts. The main side effects that come along with exposure to methylene chloride are:  

  • Drowsiness  
  • Dizziness  
  • Numb/Tingly Limbs  
  • Nausea  
  • Cancer  
  • Loss of Consciousness  
  • Death  

What are the better options?  

Better options for paint removers that do not contain methylene chloride are:  

  • Acetone  
  • Glycol Ether  
  • Triethyl Phosphate  
  • Benzyl Alcohol  
  • Formic Acid  
  • N-Methyl-2-Pyrrolidone (NMP)  

Although these chemicals do have their hazards; most of them do not cause much harm as methylene chloride can. These chemicals are not perfectly safe, but they are the safer options.   

One example of a non-methylene chloride paint remover that has results comparable to those made from methylene chloride is sold by us here at Ecolink. This product is called SAFE STRIP.   

SAFE STRIP is an environmentally friendly paint solvent made mostly from NMP. NMP is known to cause reproductive harm in California; however, that is one of the only harms this chemical can cause. You can use SAFE STRIP like any other paint remover and effectively replace products containing methylene chloride and other chemicals. This product comes with several benefits: 

  • Biodegradable  
  • Non-flammable  
  • Low VOC emissions  
  • One-step coating removal  
  • A performance like MEK and methylene chloride  
  • Non-ozone depleting

Looking for more alternatives to methylene chloride?  

Ecolink is here to help your industry with this and more! We offer multiple safer alternatives to most hazardous solvents and cleaning products. These alternatives have been supplied to industries like yours for over thirty years and are of high quality. If you would like to browse through our products, then click here! If you need any help finding more information about one of our products, you can contact one of our expert chemists here. Our chemists will help answer any questions that you may have today! 

Methylene Chloride Replacement: Safer Alternatives and Solutions  

Methylene chloride is a harmful and colorless liquid known to do serious- harm. It has multiple uses but also possesses a strong solvency power. And though it is beneficial for this, there are much safer alternatives you can utilize. This blog will discuss how to choose a safer methylene chloride replacement.  

What are the harmful effects of methylene chloride?  

Methylene chloride is used in various industries often, such as paint cleaning and manufacturing. However, there is a multitude of side effects that come with exposure to methylene chloride:  

  • Drowsiness  
  • Dizziness  
  • Numb/Tingly Limbs  
  • Nausea  
  • Risk of cancer  
  • Loss of Consciousness  
  • Death  

The effects of methylene chloride depend on several factors. Two factors are the dosage and what the product is for.   

Some of the applications for methylene chloride that do workers the most harm include:  

  • Bathtub refinishing  
  • Paint stripping  
  • Metal cleaning and degreasing  
  • Pharmaceutical Manufacturing  

What is a good methylene chloride replacement?  

Here at Ecolink, we offer one of the best methylene chloride replacements on the market in our product SAFE STRIP 

SAFE STRIP is a safer and more environmentally friendly alternative paint and resin solvent. This product is a great replacement for methylene chloride and other harmful solvents. It also has a lower Inhalation Hazard Index than both Meth and MEK.  

SAFE STRIP also has a variety of applications. It is an effective dissolvent for all coatings, such as epoxy and polyurethane resins. This product can also be brought to a temperature of 140 F and used multiple times.   

The benefits of using SAFE STRIP as a replacement are:  

  • Biodegradable  
  • Non-flammable  
  • Low VOC emissions  
  • One-step coating removal  
  • Performance equivalent to MEK and methylene chloride   
  • Non-zone depleting  

Looking for more methylene chloride replacement options?  

We here at Ecolink strive to offer our customers safe and eco-conscious cleaning product options. We have been dedicated to supplying industries like yours for over three decades and provide more than chemical solutions. If you would like to browse through our products, you can do so here. If you would prefer to speak with a member of our knowledgeable staff, we can be found here. Please do not hesitate to contact us today; we are just a click away from helping your industry thrive! 

Resin Remover Solvent: Effective Industrial Cleaning Agent  

There are many ways that resins are applied industrially. Resin is a substance that is either: in a highly viscous fluid or a hard-polymer state once it has gone through a curing process. This material comes from both plants and laboratories. In this blog, we will discuss how an industrial resin remover solvent is beneficial for resin industrial applications.  

What industries often use or manufacture resin?  

Resin has many applications: from being used as a component of safety helmets to being used in paints or coatings. There are also multiple industries that use both natural and synthetic resins within their processing and packaging:  

  • Food & Beverage   
  • Pharmaceutical   
  • Automotive   
  • Electronics   
  • Construction   
  • Agricultural   

What are some examples of resin remover solvents?  

We here at Ecolink offer a variety of safer and environmentally friendly resin removers. Two solvent removers that we offer are Tertiary Butyl Acetate and QED – Quick drying wipe solvent.   

Tertiary Butyl Acetate (TBAc) is a solvent known to have high solvency for different substances such as nitrocellulose and urethane resins. It is a great substitute for less safe solvents such as toluene and hydrocarbons. TBAc has similar solvency to MEK and toluene, among other chemicals. This solvent is also less harsh than others and can be used with delicate equipment such as electronics.   

OED-Quick drying wipe solvent is also a strong solvent that can be used to clean grease and organic resins on different surfaces including those made of plastic or rubber. This solvent comes with several benefits:  

  • Odorless  
  • Contains no water  
  • Rapid evaporation  
  • No residue  
  • High dielectric strength  
  • No OSHA or ACGIH listed ingredients  

Looking for more resin removal products?  

At EcoLink our goal is to provide our customers with safe, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly products. We offer a multitude of different cleaning products like the ones discussed above. If you would like to browse through our selection, then click here! If you do not know exactly what you are looking for, then click here to discuss with one of our expert chemists what product would work best for you! Do not hesitate to reach out today! 

Resin Remover Spray: Efficient Cleaning Solution for Industrial Use  

Resin can be both naturally occurring and synthetically made. It is a viscous substance: when cured, it becomes a rigid polymer-like substance. There are many industrial applications for resin, and also many types of resins. In this blog, we will discuss how helpful it can be to have a resin remover spray on hand while the resin is applied.    

What is a resin used for?  

There are multiple different types of resin:  

  • Polyester resins  
  • Phenolic resins  
  • Alkyd resins  
  • Polycarbonate resins  
  • Polyamide resins  
  • Polyurethane resins  
  • Silicone resins  
  • Epoxy resins  
  • Polyethylene resins  
  • Acrylic resins  
  • Polystyrene resins  
  • Polypropylene resins  

Each of these resins has their own uses. Acrylic resins are used for coating and adhesives, while polypropylene resins for toys and electronic components. Although these resins are used for many applications, a resin remover spray would still be helpful in situations where they are present.  

Why choose a resin remover spray?  

A spray resin remover makes any resin removal easier; it can be more effective in industrial settings than other resin removers. In industrial settings where a lot of resin is present, it is a priority to have a type of remover on hand since excess resin can lead to equipment shutdown. 

One example of an efficient resin remover here at Ecolink is Ecolink 4005 (A). This product is an aerosol solvent degreaser made from a combination of Trans-1,2 dichloroethylene (t-DCE) and a low GWP, non-flammable Hydrofluoroether (HFE). Ecolink 4005 (A) is compatible with all metals, non-metals, elastomers, and composites. It is an excellent product for precision cleaning. It also comes with multiple applications: being an excellent solvent for aerosol formulations.   

The benefits of using Ecolink 4005 (A) over other removal sprays are listed below.  

  • Low GWP  
  • Non-ozone depleting  
  • Non-flammable  
  • Non-hazardous  
  • Non-toxic  
  • Safe replacement for nPB and TCE  

Looking for more resin remover options?  

If you are looking for more options, you have come to the right place! Ecolink strives to provide our customers with eco-friendly and effective cleaning products. If you would like to browse through the selections that we offer, then click here! If you have any questions about our products or trouble deciding which product would be best for you, click here to talk to one of our expert chemists today! They will answer any questions you have and are just a click away!